Army Combat Shirt Type 1 Contract Awarded for $15.3M to National Industries for the Blind
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $15,329,622 ($15.3M)
Contractor: National Industries for the Blind
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2009-09-08
End Date: 2010-09-13
Contract Duration: 370 days
Daily Burn Rate: $41.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ARMY COMBAT SHIRT TYPE 1
Place of Performance
Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA (CITY) County, VIRGINIA, 22314
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $15.3 million to NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND for work described as: ARMY COMBAT SHIRT TYPE 1 Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single source, raising questions about competition. 2. The awardee, National Industries for the Blind, is a non-profit organization. 3. The contract value is $15.3 million for a 370-day duration. 4. The sector is apparel manufacturing, specifically cut and sew. 5. No specific competition details are available, indicating a potential lack of price discovery.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $15.3 million for 370 days suggests a per-unit cost of approximately $48,665. Without specific unit counts or detailed pricing breakdowns, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. However, the fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning no other vendors were considered. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as competitive pressures are absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price due to the lack of competition.
Public Impact
This contract supports the production of essential combat apparel for the U.S. Army. The award to National Industries for the Blind highlights a commitment to supporting organizations that employ individuals with disabilities. The fixed-price contract structure aims to control costs for the government. The duration of the contract suggests a sustained need for this specific apparel item.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes value assessment difficult.
- Contract duration is relatively short, potentially requiring future procurements.
Positive Signals
- Award to a non-profit organization supporting employment for the blind.
- Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
- Supports a critical defense need for combat apparel.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the apparel manufacturing sector, specifically 'All Other Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing'. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on defense needs and material costs. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific product details.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to National Industries for the Blind, a non-profit organization, not a small business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, which typically undergoes less rigorous oversight than competitive procurements. Accountability for pricing and performance rests heavily on the contracting officer and the awardee.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Limited price discovery
- Potential for inflated costs
- Insufficient data for robust value analysis
Tags
all-other-cut-and-sew-apparel-manufactur, department-of-defense, va, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $15.3 million to NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND. ARMY COMBAT SHIRT TYPE 1
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $15.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-09-08. End: 2010-09-13.
What was the justification for the sole-source award, and were any efforts made to explore competitive options?
The justification for the sole-source award is not detailed in the provided data. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source can fulfill the requirement. However, without further information, it's unclear if alternative vendors or competitive strategies were considered or deemed unsuitable for this specific combat shirt.
How does the per-unit cost of this combat shirt compare to similar items procured competitively?
A direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible with the given data. The total award value is $15.3 million over 370 days. To establish a benchmark, we would need the exact number of units procured and potentially the specific material composition and manufacturing complexity of the Type 1 combat shirt.
What is the long-term effectiveness and value proposition of procuring combat shirts through this specific sole-source mechanism?
The long-term effectiveness and value are questionable due to the lack of competition. While the award supports a non-profit, the absence of competitive bidding may result in suboptimal pricing and potentially limit innovation. The government relies on the awardee's commitment to quality and fair pricing without market validation.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing › All Other Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: CLOTHING, INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT, INSIGNA, AND JEWELRY
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1310 BRADDOCK PL, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 08
Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $15,329,622
Exercised Options: $15,329,622
Current Obligation: $15,329,622
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-09-08
Current End Date: 2010-09-13
Potential End Date: 2010-09-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2010-04-13
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